It is difficult to overstate Michelangelo Buonarroti's impact on the Florentine Renaissance, or on art history in general. His techniques changed forever the way that artists, especially sculptors, would approach their craft; and his interpretation of Christian and classical iconography left an indelible mark on future eras. During our three- and-a-half hour walk, we will follow the career of Michelangelo during his Florentine sojourn, discussing his early years and career under the patronage of the Medici family. 

Early beginnings
The Michelangelo Seminar is designed to give clients and their docent a chance to explore the work and artistic legacy of Michelangelo in depth. We begin at the Casa Buonarroti, a house purchased by the artist for his family, now converted into a small museum of drawings and early sculptures. Here, in this relatively unknown museum, we will spend some time laying out the important themes that resonate through his work. Next, we move to the Bargello Museum, a former Medieval-era prison, which contains one of the most important sculpture collections in the world. Here, we will pick through the vast holdings to view several of Michelangelo's works, including the Bacchus. We will also spend some time with the works of other, related artists, in order to try to develop the context that surrounded Michelangelo's work. 

The David
Lastly, we will move on to the Galleria dell'Accademia, which houses Michelangelo's masterpiece and consummate symbol of the Florentine Renaissance, the David. Here we will explore this important statue and related works. We will wrap up our seminar by diuscussing Michelangelo's later career in Rome, culminating in the painting of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. 

This seminar is usually led by a an art historian with a master's qualification (or higher), and is structured like an upper-level college seminar, with an emphasis on give-and-take between the docent and participants and an openness to let the conversation wander to any variety of topic.